Spooky walks

"Don't matter if you believe in them or not. If they're there, they're there . . ." (Joan Lowery Nixon, "The Haunting")

Hanover Area Historical Society member Richard Gladfelter will both enlighten and frighten folks as he leads two two-hour ghost walking tours next weekend.

The tours will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 28, in front of the Warehime-Myers Mansion, 305 Baltimore St., Hanover, where tickets may be purchased.

After meeting at the mansion, the group will walk to York Street, Broadway, the Hanover Square, Carlisle Street, back to the Square, and Frederick Street, before heading back and concluding at the mansion.

During the walk, Richard will provide facts about Hanover's history and the local ghosts, too.

CONRAD

It is, after all, Halloween Weekend, and there are so many spooky tales to share!"Be hole, be dust, be dream, be wind/Be night, be dark, be wish, be mind,/Now slip, now slide, now move unseen,/Above, beneath, betwixt, between." (Neil Gaiman, "The Graveyard Book")

One of the ghostly stories that Richard shared with me focuses on the late Rev. George Ressor, pastor of what is now Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 124 Broadway. On April 16, 1901, the Rev. Ressor was standing on a temporary platform for the cross that was intended to be placed on top of the steeple. As the 31-year-old pastor examined the plumb line, he took a step backward and inadvertently fell to his death. A marble altar was placed in the church in memory of Rev.

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Ressor. The area of the church where his office was, is now said to feel cold.

Emmanuel UCC is the only inside stop on the tour (for at least approximately 20 or 25 minutes). Participants will hear themed songs played by Director of Music, Donald Horneff.

"When we went in that one time, a man thought one of the apostle's face moved in the church."

" . . . There are spirits in there . . ." Richard explained. One neighbor heard music playing in the church one summer day and he later commented to the organist how beautiful the music was. Much to the neighbor's surprise, the organist hadn't been the one playing in the church at that time. And no one was ever found.

It's said that ghosts stick around for reasons such as: theirs was a sudden death; they have unfinished business; and/or they simply like it here and don't want to leave.

Richard rattled off many ghost stories to me and he will tell those stories to the groups. He'll also explain the history of Hanover, as well.

Other topics will be covered, too, such as the author of "Madame Butterfly" (on which the famous opera was based), author John Luther Long (the famed writer who tried to shun notoriety, was born on New Year's Day, and died on Halloween), the Fountain, Forest Park, Hanover Theatre, The McAllister Inn, Young Mansion and Guthrie Memorial Library, Hanover's Public Library.

"At night, here in the library, the ghosts have voices." (Alberto Manguel, "The Library at Night")

Richard told me about a ghost that visits Rose's Pizza and Restaurant, 701 Third St. When I called the shop, one of the staff confirmed what Richard had told me - some "weird things" have happened there. The employee said that, while things have quieted down lately, one of the drivers did manage to videotape a chair moving on its own.

Richard said that Jim Zartman will do a talk at Emmanuel's cemetery located behind Trinity U.C.C.. Many people think the cemetery is actually Trinity's, Richard said, but it belongs to Emmanuel's UCC.

The rain-or-shine event which includes the ghost walk and Zartman's talk costs $5 per person and proceeds will go to HAHS. All who wish to participate are asked to wear comfortable shoes and bring flashlights.

On Saturday evening, Oct. 27, a Halloween costume party will be held at the Warehime-Myers Mansion. Tickets for the party will be $13 per person and music by Lucinda Graybill, fun and refreshments will be provided. Tickets may be purchased at the HAHS stand at Hanover Market, or at the Mansion.

For more information about either event, you may contact Richard at 717-632-0378.

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